Device for inserting and extracting metal radio tubes



June 5 1951 m. J. THESSE 2 555381 DEVICE FOR INSERTING AND EXTRACTING METAL RADIO "mass Filed May 26, 1947 IN VEN T611.

awe Hi mm Amway 'mounted one or more wedge members.

Patented June 5, 1951 DEVICE FOR IN SERTIN G AND EXTRACTING METAL RADIO TUBES Clyde J. Thisse, Long Beach, Calif.

Application May 26, 1947, Serial No. 750,613

1 Claim.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This invention relates to holding mechanisms and more particularly to a device for inserting and extracting metal radio tubes.

In the serving and repairing of complicated radio equipment, it is often necessary to extract metal radio tubes from places which are difficult of access. It is an object of this invention to devise means for extracting metal radio tubes from places in a radio chassis which are difficult of access by hand.

It is sometimes expedient to remove a radio tube from the chassis while it is still hot; and it is another object of this invention to provide a device for extracting hot radio tubes without burning the fingers of the operator.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for extracting radio tubes from a chassis without running the risk of harming the tube in any fashion.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a radio tube extractor which may be so adjusted that it may be used equally well to insert a radio tube into a chassis.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide, in a radio tube extractor, a mechanism whereby a tube, after extraction from a chassis, may be quickly and easily removed from the extractor.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a body portion on which are slidably The respective engaging faces on the body and the wedges are tapered, so that relative longitudinal movementbetween the body and thewedges causes lateral movement of the wedges from the body, thereby gripping the object to be held, in this case a radio tube.

A convenient manner of forming the wedge members is to fabricate them as portions of a conical cylinder with one face of each member being of conical configuration. These conical faces slidably engage a conical surface formed on the body, so that relative longitudinal movement between the body and the wedges causes radial movement of the wedges from the body, whereby the tube is gripped firmly. The stronger the force between the tube and the body, the tighter is the wedging action against the tube to hold it in the extractor.

While the application of this invention to a radio tube requires the device to be designed for inward wedging movement of the wedges to em-- brace the tube, it will be understood that the broader principles of this invention may also be applied to apparatus in which the wedges are 2 forced outwardly into a suitable gripping recess in the object to be held.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided spring means for biasing the wedge members into gripping position. Further in accordance with this invention there is provided means for retracting the wedge members and maintaining them in non-gripping position against the spring bias. This means preferably assumes the form of a J-slot and pin connection between the wedge members and the extractor body.

One embodiment Of this invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. l is a longitudinal cross section of a preferred form of the tube extractor, 'and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, isometric view, partially exploded, showing one of the wedge members separated from the body.

Referring to the drawing, l I designates the extractor body formed of a cylinder fabricated preferably of a soft, pliant metal such as aluminum or aluminum alloy. .The inside of the cylindrical body I forms a cavity for the reception of a pair of semi-cylindrical, wedge or gripping members l2. The inner faces l3 of the members [2 are substantially cylindrical, while the outer surfaces are conical, being tapered as shown at 14.

The conical surfaces I4 of the members l2 slidably engage a conical surface 15 forming the inner rim of the edge of the cylindrical body II. It will be readily seen that inward movement of the members M into the body ll causes them to move outward radially by virtue of the cooperating action of the conical surfaces l4 and I5, thereby enabling a metal radio tube to enter into the body H. The diameter of the cylindrical surfaces I3 is approximately equal to the diameter of the radio tube, so that the members 12 form semi-cylindrical jaws, completely embracing the tube, when the tube is embedded. in the body H. Any attempt to separate the tube from the extractor tends to cause outward movement of the wedge members I2 from the body III. This action causes the conical surfaces l4, coacting with the conical surface [5, to wedge the members l2 radially inward, thereby gripping the tube more tightly against the force tending to separate the tube from the extractor. The pliability of the members I2, which are preferably also fabricated of a soft material such as aluminum or aluminum alloy, allows the conical surfaces I4 and I5 to press the members in against the tube from all angles, in spite of the fact that the jaws are formed of only two pieces.

A handle I1 is'press-fitted at [8 into the rear rneta-l radio tube.

end of the body I l, and it may be further secured therein, if desired, by a metal pin l9 passed diametrically through the handle I! and body II. The handle I! is preferably fabricated of suitable heat and electrical insulating material.

It has been found desirable to maintain the wedge members 12 biased toward gripping position, and for this purpose a coiled compression spring 2i is interposed between the inner end of the handle I! and the members [2 The outer end of the spring 21 presses substantially uniformly against the annular edges 22 of 'the wedge members I2.

In order to guide the members 12 in their lon gitudinal reciprocation within the body I I, and to simultaneously provide a means for retracting the wedge members l2 into non-gripping position, a J-slot and pin connection is provided between each of the members i2 and the-body M. In the embodiment shown, pins 25 are anchored in the members 12, and extend radially outward thereof through J-slots 26 formed in the body H. The pins 25 are of diameter appreciably smaller than the width of the slots 25, so that free sliding of the pins in the slots is obtained.

In the extracting operation, the pins reciprocate in the longitudinal portions 2? of the J -slots 2%. When it is desired to remove the tube from the extractor, it is merely necessary to draw back the projecting ends of the pins 2 5, and rotate the members 12 slightly to bring the pins 25 into the lateral portions 28 'of the J-slots 25, thereby holding the members 12 in retracted position against the bias of the spring 2!. In this positionof the members 52 the tube may be readily removed from the extractor, because the members !2 are separated radially a slight amount through the action of the cam surfaces It and 15.

Operation The tube extractor described hereinbefore is used to extract a tube in the following manner. With the pins .25 in the longitudinal portions 21 of the J-slots 2.6, the extractor is placed over a The friction of the tube on the-inner surfaces It of the members [2 during the inserting operation forces the members ['2 inwardly against the spring 2| so that they separate slightly, allowing ready insertion of the tube. When the outer edges 3| of the members i2 abut theshoulder formed near the bottom of thetube, the extractor is pulled back. The frictional engagement between the tube and the surfaces I3 causes the latter to be drawn out of the body ii. ,Theresultingcoaction between the engaging tapered surfaces it and i wedges the members iz'inwardly into tight engagement with the tube. In this manner the tube is tightly locked in the extractor, and may be readily pulled from its socket in the radio chassis.

To remove the tubefrom the extractor, it is merely necessary to pull back on the projecting ends of the pins 25, and rotate them into the lateral portions 28 of the J-slots 26. This relieves the wedging force exerted by the members l2 on the tube, and permits it to be readily removed from the extractor.

' Theinsertion of a radio-tube into a chassis with the tube holder of this invention is as follows. The pins 25 are moved into the lateral portions 28 .of the J-slots 26, thereby securing the members l2 in retracted or non-gripping position.

A tube is then inserted into the body H. The

.4 frictional engagement between the tube and the inner surfaces 13 of the members I2 is sufiicient to prevent the tube from dropping out of the holder. The tube is then inserted into its socket. the pressure of the edges 3| of the members l2 against the tube shoulder serving to drive the tube firmly into its socket. The holder may then be slipped from the tube, there being no action of the wedge members l2, since they are locked in retracted position by the pins 25, disposed in the lateral portions 28 of the J-slots 26.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that there has been provided a holder which automatically grips an object to be extracted by virtue of the wedging action of the tapered holding members. This holding device is especially useful for the extraction and insertion of metal radio tubes, although it will be understood that its use is not limited to such objects. It will be further understood that this invention may be made and utilized in any suitable shape, size, or arrangement, depending upon the object to be gripped, and that various modifications and changes may be made in this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the appended claim.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

A puller for metal radio tubes comprising a body having a cavity formed therein for receiving a radio tube to be gripped, a portion of the walls of said cavity being of conical configuration, a pair of substantially identical, generally semi-cylindrical members made of pliant metal such as aluminum, slidable in said cavity and having conical outer faces slidably engaging said conical wall portions of said cavity, a spring in said cavity bearing against said. members to bias them outwardly of said cavity, a plurality of J-slo'ts in the walls of said cavity adjacent said members, and a plurality of pins anchored to said members and extending outwardly thereof into said slots, whereby said members may slide in said cavity or alternatively may be anchored in retracted position within said cavity against the bias of said spring, the circumferential extent of the aggregate of said members being appreciably less than that of the full cylinder, so that appreciable longitudinal gaps exist between said members, whereby said spring causes said members to flare outwardly when anchored by'said pins in retracted position within said cavity.

CLYDE J. THISSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 1-, 1 926 

